Institute's Establishment

The Mekong Delta Development Research Institute (MDI) has changed its name as well as mandate and mission many times to adapt with developing period and background of Cantho University and also society as follow:

• Mekong Delta Development Research Institute, 2005;
• Mekong Delta Farming Systems Research & Development Institute, 1995;
• Mekong Delta Farming Systems Research & Development Center, 1991;
• Farming Systems Research & Development Center of Cantho University, 1988;
• Mekong Delta Rice Research & Development Center, College of Agriculture, Cantho University, 1981;
• Rice Science Department, College of Agriculture, Cantho University, 1976.

Personnel
The Institute presently has 82 staff including 8 PhD, 15 MSc and 38 BSc holders.

The Mission
With a high degree of specialisation and well-experienced personnel, the Institute’s activities and collaborations are aimed at the Mekong Delta’s sustainable socio-economic development through:

• Education (degree and non-degree programs),
• Science-technology research and transfer
• Development consultancy

Achievements

• Training for more than 1500 Bachelors and Masters of Science in agriculture.
• Advising BSc, MSc, and PhD students to their research in the following fields:
  o Rice Science
  o Farming Systems
  o Agricultural Systems;
  o Agricultural Economy;
  o Rural Development.
• Conducting short courses for more than 12000 farmers and local officials.
• Participating in many research & development projects at national, ministry, university and institute level (with more than 300 experiments and on-farm trials).
• Implementing and coordinating more than 50 research topics, transferring the advanced technologies from national or international projects/programs.
• Especially, from 1977 to 2002, the Institute has released 45 short duration and 18 medium duration rice varieties (by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) of which 13 rice varieties have been recognized to be national rice varieties.
• The result of research topics and projects has brought the practical effects for applying in production and rural development thoughout the country area in the Mekong Delta. Those include Rice-fish integrated farming, Rice-shrimp farming (in fresh water, brackish water), VAC,… Extension method based on bottom up approach towards farming system has been introduced and popularized in Vietnam Farming System Network..
• The Institute was offered awards such as: “Bong lua vang”, “Friend of farmer with Vietnam agricultural development in 1996-2000 period” by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Many other certificates for excellent individuals or excellent departments in Institute were also offered from Ministry of Education and Training